It's official!  MooreMagnets has a new blog and website!  I'm still filling the shelves, but I hope you will join me there!

Ecommerce Conundrums

I have spent a bit of time over the last week reducing some of the things that I have started and not finished.  Mainly lots of online things that I have started, but have never come to fruition. 

It seems that since I first started having a website in 2005 for MooreMagnets.com somethings have changed a lot, and others not so much.  The biggest thing that has changed is the shear number of options that people have for websites and shopping carts ... however the functionality of websites and shopping carts seems to not have caught up so much. 

Some of my friends understand these complications - especially when they are trying to offer customizations or a wide range of products.  However, other friends who have a basic product line to offer don't have the needs of customization and sail through the ecommerce set up without many headaches.

So ... over the coming weeks you may see some changes around here.  Mainly that I am considering moving my blog to wordpress ... however I am not sure how that is going to work with my existing posts here ... and also setting up a shopping cart on wordpress ... which could end up to be a total nightmare LOL!

Mainly I would just like to consolidate some things ... and make things simpler ... I am ALL about making things simpler!

Resolutions ... Admitting Defeat ... and Getting back on the Wagon

Ahhh ... I woke up this morning to the realization that my house is crazy town again ... You know how the stuff just sneaks up on you ... Really, last night it couldn't have been this bad!

I guess I haven't really been defeated by my resolutions ... after all my resolution was to be a better me, and earlier this week I just needed some girlfriend therapy.  You know when you just have to stop everything, pick up the phone and completely loose track of time while you vent, laugh, catch up, and ignore crazy town in the background and visit with a girlfriend who really does understand. 

I'm in the process of eliminating virtual clutter ... all of those online things that are sitting in the back of my head ... delete this, update the url's on that, get rid of that blog that was a great idea but I know that I am never gonna post there. 

And, this morning I am tackling the house ... Satisfied to say that I am typing this post to the hum of the dishwasher and clothes washer ... The laundry will be tackled today ... bathrooms will be cleaned ... Not sure if all of the vacuuming will be done, but the blankets that seem to have invaded the living room will return to the bedrooms where they belong. 

And, I will take photographs of all of these magnet boards that I have finished.  I have actually been productive this week.  Just not a balanced productive. 

This is one of those days when I realize how much simpler things were when I worked outside of the home.  Where work was somewhere that you went and left ... and the housework wasn't screaming at you the entire time you were at work ... and work wasn't screaming at you while you were trying to tackle the house.  The lines get crossed when you work from home ... home and work lines become blurred ... and you must focus at some point, but not just on one thing.  You have to have the ability to focus on both .. just not at the same time!

I know there are lots of people that wish they could work from home, and I do realize how lucky I am ... but it is not the glamorous life ... magical things don't happen ... and life is not perfect when you work from home.  It is a challenge ... and you must be focused and dedicated ... you must be able to manage your time.  I've been working on this all but one year of the last 9.5 years ... it hasn't gotten any easier!

Wish me luck ... at least I know the laundry doesn't fight back!

Time Management - 5 Minutes

Time Management seems impossible sometimes.  Especially when you are running around and working like a crazy person!

So, do you think you could carve out 5 minutes to work on Time Management?

Tonight, just sit down and make a list of what you need to do tomorrow!

Want a cute list?  There are several really cute free printables over on mommytracked.com ... and no, they aren't just for mommies!

http://www.mommytracked.com/downloads


Now ... Off to work on my list for tomorrow!  

Green and Navy Blue Office Accessories

Oh, the beautiful things that you can find on Etsy!

Green and Navy Blue is such a classic color combination, and absolutely stunning in an office!  White, Black, and Silver accessories would go great with this color combination too!  Here are some great office accessories paired up with one of the newest magnet boards that I have listed.

Links for each picture can be found below!

1.  12 inch x 12 inch Magnet Board with Navy Dogwood Blooms by MooreMagnets

2.  Navy and White Chevron Key Fob by BrooklynLoveDesigns

3.  Navy and Green Scissor Sleeve by CityChicCountryMouse

4.  Green Chevron Fabric Organizer Storage Bin by BaffinBags

5.  Personalized Folded Note Cards in Preppy Green and Navy Palms by Misspokadot

6.  Navy and White Chevron Mouse Pad by SSKDesigns

7.   Apple Green Mums Guest Book by EmersonBindery

A New Ad to go with New Pictures

I am so happy with all of my new pictures!  The faux floor is working out so well, and the re-do of my dining room has given me the perfect spot to take lovely pictures!  Now, it doesn't matter if it is raining, too sunny, too shady, too cold or too hot ... I am taking pictures!!

You can see more info on the faux floor here:  http://mooremagnets.blogspot.com/2013/02/product-photos-tools-for-amature-or.html

New Magnet Boards! I am in love with the Poppies!

Ah, finally some new magnet boards listed!  I had to make sure that I used some of the new poppies fabric that I got.  Although, I had a really hard time cutting it!  It is so pretty!  All of these are beautiful!

I am still loving my new photography set up!  And I am getting better at playing with my camera and new lens!  Love these close ups!

You can find these in the Magnet Boards section of my Etsy shop!  At least until they sell out!  This is the last of the Amy Butler Periwinkle fabric ... and that does make me sad!

My Style - Comfort!

I haven't told you about the amazing boots that my hubby got me for Christmas!  They are so comfortable, and perfect for tromping all over our 7 acres of land.  You can see I have already been wearing them, and they wear beautifully!  I've never had boots that are so comfortable and boots that I can actually wear for a full work day!

So, I thought I would put together a little collection of things that I need to add to my wardrobe to dress up those boots for trips the to the store, or even out for a casual dinner!

1.  I thought this amazing leather bag would be perfect for me!  It really fits my style, and looks rugged enough to withstand my daily life!  Beautifully designed by leatherpassionkomal

2.  This bracelet by Jewels by Trish would add a perfect accent with the brown focal bead and leather cording.

3.  These are my wonderful boots!  They are by Ariat® and they are similar to these at Tractor Supply

4.  I am in love with this poncho by AliceCloset on Etsy!  The casual hem could easily be dressed up or down and would keep me nice and warm!

5.  I would wear it all with my favorite fitting jeans (Also given to me by my wonderful hubby!)  They are Carhartt Curvy fit! 

Being the best you can be ... doesn't have anything to do with the competition

Over the weekend, I asked my husband about what he thought about my new pictures.  He really liked them, but asked why I was taking all of the pictures over again.  He knows it is a lot of work, time consuming, and he also thinks that my previous pictures were good. I thought they were good too!  I think my new pictures are better though. 

It got me thinking though.  Why isn't good, good enough?  Why do I keep striving to make good, better?  At what point is good going to be the best? 

I don't pay a lot attention to what other people are doing.  Meaning, I am not out there trying to make my things, or pictures, look like everyone else.  I make changes because I really try to be the best that I can be, and do things the best that I can.  Perhaps it is why I don't make magnet boards like everyone else.  Why I put the extra effort into mounting metal onto boards.  Why I include magnets with magnet boards.  Why I keep improving my pictures. 

It isn't about being better than someone else, it is about being the best that I can be.

It is why I keep improving my products, myself, me ... I want to go to bed at night knowing that I gave it my all.  I want my kids to know that being the best you can be isn't about beating out your competition.  It is about knowing that you gave it your all, and if you aren't satisfied with that, then you make adjustments and improvements. 

Today, I will be a better me than I was yesterday.  At least I will try, and knowing that, I will go to bed satisfied and accomplished. 

Product Photos - Tools for the amature ... or budding photographer perhaps!

So, I was all excited last August when I got a new fancy camera!  It is a Canon Rebel DSLR and it was replacing my 7-year old Canon point and shoot.  I was a little overwhelmed, so I met up with a friend that I hadn't seen in 20 years (since high school!) who was a professional photographer.  It was a great morning!  Great to catch up with an old friend, and also great to go over all of my camera settings.

Kevin was a great teacher, so I have to give a big shout out and thank you to him!!  You can see his work on his facebook page - Kevin M. James 

Unfortunately a new camera didn't solve all of my photography woes.  It certainly improved them, but not quite to the point that I wanted to get to.  I needed lighting and I needed a better setting.

I started out purchasing a fake floor mat on Amazon.  I decided on it because it was heavier than just the vinyl ones that are used as back drops.  But, at 23 inches x 34 inches it fell short when I was photographing larger magnet boards.  I also invested in some lights, stands, and a white backdrop - also from Amazon - and they really help on those darker days in my house.

So my new fake floor arrived today!!  It is 4 feet x 5 feet - plenty large enough for what I needed.  Actually I could have used 2 feet x 5 feet, but that size wasn't available.

Here is a photo grouping on of the fake floors - so you know what I am talking about!

 And here is the result!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE what is going to happen with my pictures!! 

Chalkboard clip magnets everywhere!!

I have finally managed to list more Chalkboard Clip Magnets!

Day of the Week Chalkboard Clip Magnets

I've been selling these with the days of the week stamped on them for a while, and everyone seems to love them!  I do too!!

Blank Chalkboard Clip Magnets

Blank Chalkboard Clip Magnets

Save the Date Chalkboard Clip Magnets

However, I have gotten asked several times if I can leave them plain and not stamped, so now those are in my shop too!

I had fun writing on them with my chalkboard pen!  I recommend the chalk pens, but regular chalk will work too!





















And, for all of the brides looking for clever save the dates, you can send these Clip Magnets that your guests can use over and over again!

The ink used to stamp them is permanent and won't wash off!  I have quantities of 10, 25, 50, 100, and 150 pieces listed.

I love them all!!

Yay! New Fabrics!

Whew!  I finally got these new fabrics photoed and the listings updated in my create your own section!

I LOVE them!!

Making time for it all

Perhaps you could tell by my last post, that I was a wee bit stressed out! 

No one has commented, but I see lots of visits ... sometimes it sure feels lonely out there in the blogging world!

Alas, I'm moving forward.  I did manage to get things in check .. Now I am working on making shorter to do lists.  I feel like I actually get more accomplished when the list is shorter ... when the list seems more doable, and less overwhelming.

It is Sunday, and part of me feels like it should be a day of rest.  The realistic part of me knows that I can't just veg on the couch under a blanket ... so I've battled the overgrown parsley (I had no idea how HUGE the roots get on parsley!) ... tidied up the flower bed, fixed lunch, cleaned the kitchen, caught up on laundry, and now I vacuum ... After that, I shall prepare for a week of work.

I am actually looking forward to a week of work.  Seems like I haven't had much of that since Christmas ... and here we are a month past Christmas! 

Hopefully my next entry will be about fabric, magnets, and all of those wonderful things!  Housework is pretty boring!

Oh goodness ... I think I am ADD ...

I have to tell you all ... that I am beginning to think that I am ADD ... Things seem like they are spiraling out of control this week and I need to reign it all in!

Well ... to give you a heads up ... The weekend warrior project has turned out great, but has completely taken away my attention from the house.  I have done a pretty good job of keeping things at bay, but at this point ... I feel CRAZY! 

There are tools, and paint, and pictures ... all over my dining room table ... this morning there was also work stuff, but I did manage to get that put away.  And pictures, plates, uncovered magnet boards and all sorts of other stuff in my living room ... my bathtub has foot prints in it ... and the bathroom floor is beginning to look like a mud room! 

Time to STOP ... and clean it up ... and get the laundry caught up too ... Must stay focused.  I have discovered that when I am feeling really unfocused because I have too many projects going on, that the best way for me to combat it is to do a few simple (ok maybe not simple in execution but stay with me) things.

First, make a list of all of the undone projects.  It is easier for me to do this when everything is out in the open and not put away.  Seeing some of the supplies left out also may spark my mind of an undone project that I have been meaning to finish.

Second, put it all away.  When I have too many things left out, I have a hard time focusing on and finishing one project.  I need a clean work area, and only one thing out at a time.  I also keep the list handy so that I can make sure I don't forget anything that I need to work on.

Third, take a breather and enjoy the peaceful clean space.  This helps to empty my brain, and sometimes I even do a brain dump in my journal or list of undone projects. 

Finally, focus on taking one project out at a time and finish that project.

Now ... off to do all of my steps ... I need peace and serenity ... and sanity!!

Are you a weekend warrior?

Hubby and I are about to embark on our latest weekend project - putting up chair rail and painting our dining area! 

I'm excited, and I promise I will take pictures and post about it next week!

We are fairly ambitious part-time weekend warriors.  I say part-time, because we don't do a project every weekend ... actually we can be quite lazy some weekends, but ambitious because we usually take on some fairly big projects!

First off ... we built my workshop - you can see a picture of it in this post kind of half finished ... I now have siding and stairs and power!  Although I can't seem to find a picture of it with all of those things
Workshop: http://mooremagnets.blogspot.com/2009/01/make-over.html
Siding and Wiring:  http://mooremagnets.blogspot.com/2009/09/labor-day-is-for-laboring.html

We also have a fairly extensive garden each year ... this is last year's prepped to plant ... and compost bins that we made from pallets
Garden:  http://mooremagnets.blogspot.com/2012/03/progress-in-shop-and-progress-in-garden.html

We also poured a concrete patio at the front of our house.  This is one of those projects that took forever!  Started in May and not finished until December!  ... We poured concrete at our old house and I seriously have NO plans on ever doing it again ... the preparation is backbreaking work!
Patio: 
clearing out plants:  http://mooremagnets.blogspot.com/2011/05/diy-new-patio-well-maybe-mud-pit.html
Prep after digging and tamping and filling, and leveling and measuring (the back breaking parts!) http://mooremagnets.blogspot.com/2011/12/patio-aka-mud-pit-update.html
Finally finished!  I LOVE my patio!
http://mooremagnets.blogspot.com/2012/01/yay-patio-is-finished.html

I really wish I had taken pictures of before and after of installing the cabinets for my work area in the house ... but you can see the finished ones here ... and yes, I still need to paint the darn things!  One day, one day ...
http://mooremagnets.blogspot.com/2011/02/organized-desk-and-what-i-want-it-to.html

So, now, time to start on the newest weekend warrior project!  I would love if you would leave comments and links to some of your projects!!

Note to Self - You are not Super Woman!

Ahhhh it is Friday!  That is supposed to be a good thing, right??!! 

Last night, Friday eve, I was up late doing a load of laundry, so that my little one would have pants for school today, loading the dishwasher, putting away the sewing machine and various other supplies from a pinterest project that I got sucked into ... feeling really bad about myself because I hadn't got lots of the chores done on my list this week.  I needed a reality check!

I am not super woman ... I get accused of being this super organized person sometimes that gets so much done ... It makes me laugh because up until a couple weeks ago, I would be getting all of these comments while sitting in my home that was in shambles.  I was getting plenty of work done ... but not so much housework. 

Last night, after putting away all of my crafty stuff and putting the few dirty dishes in the sink, I realized that the house really wasn't in shambles.  If a friend walked through the door at that moment I wouldn't hang my head in shame at the craziness. 

Yes, the bedroom didn't get vacuumed, the shelves didn't get dusted, the windows and mirrors aren't spotless ... but that's ok ... it will get done ... Sleep is more important than any of those things.

It's Friday now, and I have another list of things that need to be done.  The important things have already been done before I write this post ... everything else is a bonus!

Have a great weekend! 

New in the Shop! Valentine Magnet Sets

I have always adored the little heart candies with the sayings on them that come out every Valentine's Day.  However, I really don't like the candies themselves!  So, I decided to make some little magnet sets with the same cute candy feel without the yucky taste!  (Sorry to those of you who like them!)

 Each set comes in a cute little magnet tin with a clear top!

I think they would be lovely to put up little notes for your loves!  ... Just don't eat them!!

The good, the bad, the ugly ... the sad ...

My resolution for 2013 ... To be a better me ... some days I think it is a tall order ... but I am so inspired by friends.

I have to confess ... there are things that I really hate about facebook ... although, I have to remember that it isn't really facebook's fault.  There are certain things that I learn through facebook that makes it seems such a cold way of sharing information, but then there are times like today that I must remember that I probably wouldn't know some pieces of news at all if it wasn't for facebook.

Death ... I hate learning about someone's death on facebook ... I sincerely hope that people don't forgo picking up a telephone and having an actual conversation with someone to tell this sort of news.  Learning about the death of a family member via facebook should not be the norm ... and yes, this has happened to me.  But today I have to remind myself that I probably wouldn't know about the death of the little girl named Lillie if it wasn't for facebook.

You see, I only met her and her mother once ... at a craft show.  Lillie was born with a heart condition and the number of surgeries that her parents and her had to go through was astonishing.  Her mother, Liz, embraced motherhood and her daughter with an amazing appreciation that I am having a hard time putting into words.  Packing so much joy, fun, laughter, and love into as much time as they are given ... a span of time that seems so short ... too short.  I became friends with Liz on facebook, and I have read and watched this amazing little life.  The way that they lived life should be taught, treasured, aspired to, and celebrated ... today it is mourned.

I am sad, and grateful, and inspired ... This is why my resolution is what it is ... I want to be the best me that I can be every single day ... and I don't want it to take a tragic event in my immediate life and family to make that happen.

Liz ... if you ever read this ... Thank you ... and I am so dearly sorry for the loss of Lillie.  You have both inspired me to be a better person and mother.

One Week In ... How are your Resolutions going? Have you started to Tweak them?

So, We are one week into 2013!  How are your resolutions going?  What have you tweaked?  What have you let go?  Are you still on track?

As some of you know I started back on my card system to keep me on track with time management and keeping my house in order.  I actually started a bit before the first of the year because I wanted to have my brain ready and my system in place.  I have started to tweak and change some things though.

I haven't changed much with my weekly, monthly, or quarterly cards yet.  Although after scrubbing tubs and showers last week I thought that weekly might be too often for that job ... I think this is more due to that I don't like doing that and I would much rather put it off and not do it as frequently.  For now, I am leaving it as a weekly task as I do think that it will be much less of a time consuming (and less work) if I do actually get it done every week.  I will be making some changes to my daily cards though.  For instance ... I need to change wiping counters and tables - I currently have them on my morning list and I thought they were on my afternoon and nightly list too ... but they are not.  I will probably take them off the morning and move them to nightly.  I also have sweep kitchen/dining on both afternoon and nightly and I will be moving that to only nightly.   

I have also been thinking about the things that I need to do that are not already in the system.  Thinks like vacuuming my car, washing the car, and outside chores ... like hubby and I were just talking about trimming our fruit trees and both decided that we needed to remind each other in late February to do this ... probably something I could make a card for and increase the likelihood that I will remember!  The car chores certainly need to be done ... and I am seriously considering treating myself to the local car wash once a month ... especially if I am getting all of this other stuff done.  It would be a nice treat not to have to do that!

I need to give more thought to my work chores and how I would like to add them in.  I certainly have things that need to be done on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis ... but I need to give more thought about how I want to get myself on track.  There are several things that I do for work that need to be done when the weather is cooperating ... and I need to get organized so that when the weather is nice, I am able to do them without being buried in other things that have to be done immediately.

Unfortunately I haven't figured out how to get the weather to cooperate with my schedule ... so until then, I need to be ready when the weather is cooperating!

So, tell me about your resolutions!!  Leave me a comment!

Eastern North Carolina BBQ Recipe

This post has been moved to my new blog!

http://mooremagnets.com/2013/04/13/eastern-north-carolina-barbeque/

The Card System for time management - You expect me to do what, when, how??!!

If you read my first post and are thinking about starting the card system to help you get organized and better manage your time:

http://mooremagnets.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-card-system-to-stay-organized-and.html

You might be feeling a little overwhelmed ... asking me - You expect me to do what?  Exactly When?  How am I going to get this done?

I will admit that when you are first setting this system up, it is a bit of work.  Thinking of all of the things you need to do, and having a hard time getting it all done now.  Honestly, this is my favorite part of the card system, because I don't have to think about it all anymore.  I know that all I have to do is pull cards out, check things off, work a little each day, and it will all get done.  I also know that it isn't going to involve me rushing around and feeling overwhelmed that things have gotten out of control.

Today, I am going to take a closer look at my daily cards for you.  These are things that I do everyday to help me stay on top of things.  Your daily cards may look different as your problem areas may look different than mine.

The purpose of the daily cards is to maintain and to control your problem areas, and also to make the hard to keep clean areas easier when the day to clean them comes around. 

You may notice that I have a bit of overlap on my daily cards.  Like wiping counters, sweeping the kitchen and dining area, laundry and dishes.  The reason for this overlap isn't to make me do these things if they don't need to be done, but more to make me look at these areas and to be proactive in keeping them cleaned up.  About half the days of the week, I don't have laundry to do, but this way I am doing laundry one load at a time instead of 5 loads one day of the week.  In the past, I have set up my cards to only do laundry one day a week, but then I had to fold 5 loads of laundry in one day, and I hate folding laundry.  By breaking it up over several days, laundry doesn't pile up and I find it less daunting to fold them one load at a time.

Wiping the counters is also an overlapping task.  Keeping the counters cleaned off is one of the areas that my husband and I tend to bicker over.  He likes the counters clean and tidy, and I tend to pile things up there.  So, I try to focus on those as a favor to him.  It just makes the household more harmonious, and I know he appreciates my efforts. 

I have also made daily cards for my children.  Their cards contain their daily chores and we go over them each night.  At the end of each week we review and I hand out allowances.  There are other cards for them that they can do to earn extra money, but the condition is that all of their daily chores have to be met before they earn money for the extras ... if not there are deductions to their extra chores.  They know that they can't just skip picking up their dirty clothes and dishes to earn money from washing cars ... They also know that they can't just was the cars every day.

Since I made my cards, I have also found that I have some other tasks that need to be done less frequently, more frequently, and things I have forgotten about too.  So I will be adding those in.

Next time I will talk about some ideas that you might want to put as weekly tasks.